General Counsel

About the Role General Counsel

The Department of Veterans' Services is dedicated to improving the lives of New York City veterans and their families through community engagement, targeted advocacy and compassionate service.

Marshaling the collective resources of the City of New York, the Department strives to: expand education and career opportunities for veterans through a rapidly growing network of public, private, and non-profit partners; ensure that they have access to quality benefits, resources and services; cultivate an holistic health model to ensure the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of veterans and their families; and connect homeless and at-risk veterans with permanent housing and support services.

Under the direction of the General Counsel, and with some latitude to exercise independent judgment, the General Counsel will:

Procurement Contracts

• Assist in the preparation of all procurement and contract actions, contract amendments, renewals, extensions, required for the preparation of solicitation bids, conducts other pre-solicitation review and post-award review activities necessary, to provide vendors with clarification of contract terms and conditions; including creating packages required for the registration of contract awards, contract negotiations, contract initiation, renewals, modifications and amendments;
• Prepare RFPs and other types of procurements in accordance with the City’s Procurement Policy Board

Rules;

• Prepare new contracts, contract amendments and contract extensions;
• Interface with DVS staff, General Counsel (OGC), and other NYC procurement and contracts teams to navigate the vendor acquisition process from the RFI/RFP stage through registration;

Labor Relations

• Review, interpret and provide advice on labor contracts, rules, and regulations;
• Serve as liaison to the department, various labor unions, and NYC Office of Labor Relations;
• Evaluate disciplinary matters for legal sufficiency, draft charges;
• Assign managers to conduct Grievance Step Conferences;
• Investigate and research labor related matters, grievances, and related issues;
• Respond to and coordinate with management to resolve employee complaints regarding potential grievances and health and safety matters;
• Serve as Department representative on Labor Management Committee;
• Gather relevant documents and prepare written summaries of investigations and closing memos to the

General Counsel, including referrals to appropriate bureaus for action;

• Research legal issues relating to EEO law and conduct investigations of complex Equal Employment

Opportunity (EEO) violations;

General

• Assist in special projects that arise as a result of the continued build-out, progression, and policy implementation associated with DVS as a start-up agency;
• Perform other related duties as required

Qualifications & Requirements

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.